TASTEFULLY designed and built with a huge sum of Rs70 million, the magnificent structure of the Women Sports Complex’s Phase II in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi stands today as a symbol of government apathy towards public welfare projects. If one goes by the building design, the project is comparable to any sports complex of international standard. But, unfortunately, as is the case in any other government-run project, it suffers from inordinate delays and is in need of funds and proper management. For, even after being in development for the last nine years, the project has yet to be opened.
Spread over 1.3 acres, the Phase II of the WSC, the country’s first sports complex exclusively for women in the public and private sector, comprises of a multi-purpose indoor gymnasium where badminton, volleyball, judo/karate contests can be held, seating arrangement for spectators, storage place for equipment, a six-lane swimming pool with seating place for spectators, pool for learners, indoor jogging track (the first in the country), two squash courts with spectators’ galleries, first aid and dressing rooms.
The impressive facade of the building makes one anticipate that the inside would be as good as its exterior. But that is not so. A major drawback of the indoor gymnasium is that its floor is made of concrete. It should be wooden according to the international standard. Moreover, the indoor gymnasium hall, the biggest in Karachi, where as many as five badminton matches can be played at a time has been despoiled by the droppings of pigeons, many of whom have found cozy places in the nooks and corners of its glass pane ceiling.
Work for gas and power supply is in progress at snail’s pace while there are no sports equipment available. For this purpose, a request had been sent 18 months ago, but the City District Government Karachi high-ups have not yet responded. Since the project has so far failed to find any place in government priorities, the infrastructure is suffering due to insufficient staff, deputed from other departments, and lack of security.
“Its window panes were broken many a times by miscreants. In the absence of any security personnel to look after this costly structure, the building has become a haven for drug addicts at night. Washroom taps and basins, fans, tube-lights, even the bars fitted in the swimming pool were once stolen. Millions of rupees have been spent on the replacement of all these equipment,” says a staff member.
Initially, the WSC project was started with a fitness centre for women in 1994 in a building owned by defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s Block-3. The building being used for office purposes was renovated and turned into a fitness centre with state-of-the-art machines for slimming, a sports library and a small hall for indoor games. It has been open for women since. Later, a skating ring for Under-14 children and a jogging track were also added.
To positively utilize the ample open space available at the site, a women’s sports complex was planned. Officials of the defunct KMC, actively worked on the project designed by renowned architect Yasmin Lari. And by April, 1996, the indoor gymnasium was completed.
However, with the change of government and its priorities in 1997, work on the project came to a standstill. In fact, the worst time came when some myopic elements in the government even tried to demolish it, considering the project frivolous. Though it survived this major assault, thanks to public hue and cry, the project went into cold storage for some years. At last, construction was re-started in 1999 and the remaining portions were completed in the following years.
Interestingly enough, availability of funds for the project hardly posed a problem in the construction of the complex, despite the change in governments and the budget money allocated every year for the project never lapsed! That was because all the money allocated for the project was used to be transferred and deposited in a separate bank accounts opened in the name of WSC. The credit for this intelligent technique to keep the project rolling in all times goes to former KMC financial advisor Rukhsana Saleem. However, with the completion of the project, Rs200,000 are allocated for WSC every year which are not enough for its repairs.
At the fitness centre, the WSC’s Phase I, there was a time when its membership rose to 500. But, later when the centre was taken over by men the number of women visiting the centre reduced drastically. Though this change of administration remained only for six months, their numbers kept declining, even with the return of women dominated staff headed by Additional District Officer CDGK, Naheed Abida.
At present, 60 women attend classes in three sessions of yoga, aerobics and fitness classes, conducted by two instructors.
“For women the idea to exercise and get involve in sporting activities at a sophisticated place reserved only for them is wonderful. The economical fee structure and ideal location of the fitness centre makes it attractive for middle-class women. Members here are anxiously waiting for the opening of the complex, so they have the opportunity to swim in a closed and protected environment,” says a group of women attending the classes. For some years a handicraft mela for women has become a regular feature at the indoor gymnasium. No doubt it’s a positive activity, but one wonders was it for this purpose the sports hall made for?
A project that has the potential to become the Sindh government’s, in fact, the nation’s pride, WSC is one of the many public welfare schemes which can fetch the government a hefty amount and will return the money spend on its construction, only if the entire facility opens for women and well taken care of by a group of sincere and honest sports-loving ladies and competent security staff. If this does not happen, the project holds no hope for future, even if the government manages to inaugurate it in three to four months, as claimed by its officials.
TASTEFULLY designed and built with a huge sum of Rs70 million, the magnificent structure of the Women Sports Complex’s Phase II in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi stands today as a symbol of government apathy towards public welfare projects. If one goes by the building design, the project is comparable to any sports complex of international standard. But, unfortunately, as is the case in any other government-run project, it suffers from inordinate delays and is in need of funds and proper management. For, even after being in development for the last nine years, the project has yet to be opened.
